Haider al-Abadi on US-Iran Tensions: We Will Not Engage in Conflicts

Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, announced that the country will not engage in any international or regional conflicts. According to a report on Saturday (February 11), Mr. Abadi made these statements on the state television of the country. These remarks came after the first phone conversation between the Prime Minister of Iraq and Donald Trump, the President of the United States, during which discussions about tensions between Iran and the US took place. Ehsan al-Shammari, an analyst close to Abadi, stated that the Prime Minister's remarks were made in light of the tensions between Iran and the US. Although Iran has a close relationship with the Shiite leaders in Iraq, the Prime Minister of Iraq emphasized Baghdad's policy of neutrality. Abadi stated on Iraqi state television that Baghdad is pursuing its national interests and has no interest in participating in any international or regional conflict that would bring disaster and misfortune to the region and Iraq. Donald Trump, following Hassan Rouhani's remarks that anyone who threatens Iran will regret it, stated that the Iranian President should 'be careful.' The White House announced on Friday that Abadi and Trump discussed the 'danger of Iran to the entire region.' Abadi's office also confirmed the phone conversation but did not mention any discussions regarding Iran. The parties in this phone conversation also emphasized the necessity of combating the Islamic State group. The US has over five thousand military personnel in Iraq and provides air and ground support to Iraqi government forces in the battle of Mosul against ISIS militants. Iran also plays a role in fighting the Islamic State by training and arming forces known as the 'Popular Mobilization' in Iraq. During the phone conversation with Trump, Abadi also requested the lifting of the travel ban on Iraqi citizens to the US.